A several-month-long spat within Madera County government ramped up this week as a slew of officials, including county chief administrative officer Eric Fleming, were served copies of a claim for damages made by treasurer-tax collector Tracy Kennedy-Desmond against Fleming, the county, and its board of supervisors.

The claim, filed Tuesday on public record with the board, is the latest development in a series of ongoing issues between Kennedy-Desmond, Fleming, and appointed auditor-controller Marcia Hall — who is not named as an entity or employee causing loss — about the operation of the tax collector’s office.

In the claim, Kennedy-Desmond alleges that “beginning on or about February 2013” Fleming — and both the county and board of supervisors as an extension — have “improperly and unlawfully portrayed in a false light and defamed” her to various entities including the media and public.

The claim continues that Fleming, the county, and board “has and continues to unlawfully harass, defame, portray in a false light, interfere with and impede (Kennedy-Desmond) in the performance of her official duties.”...